COMMENT

IMPORTANCE OF ESG WILL CONTINUE TO GROW

THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT’S AIM OF NET-ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050 AND THE FALLOUT FROM THE DESTRUCTION OF JUUKAN GORGE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO A FOCUS ON SOCIAL ISSUES FOR THE MINING SECTOR.

MICHAEL PHILIPPS

michael.philipps@primecreative.com.au Environmental, social and governance (ESG) were the buzzwords for the mining industry in 2021.

For resources companies, expectations of corporate behaviour are changing rapidly.

More and more investment capital is being redirected towards responsible entities and the image portrayed to the investing public has become more important than ever.

This has seen a rise in production of ESG reports, which keep investors and the public aware of the efforts a company is making to address environmental, social and governance issues.

However, in many ways the mining and resources sector is leading the way in social responsibility, especially in terms of environmental impact and on-site safety.

In his address to the COP26 Glasgow Climate Summit in Scotland, Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reductions Angus Taylor outlined the ways in which Australia would reduce its emissions using a range of new and future technologies.

The technology-driven plan sets out a credible pathway to net zero by 2050, establishing Australia as a leader in lowemissions technologies.

Six priority areas for investment were highlighted in the plan – clean hydrogen, energy storage, low carbon materials including green steel and aluminium, carbon capture technology, soil carbon measurement, and ultra-low-cost solar.

Last year saw a massive uptake in these investment areas from the mining industry.

Aurizon and Anglo American are investigating hydrogen-powered bulk freight trains to create more sustainable supply chains in mining.

Fortescue Metals Group will look to roll out its new hydrogen-powered haul truck in the second half of this decade, with the company having commenced testing of the new vehicle.

Rio Tinto will be the first to deploy Caterpillar’s 793 zero-emission autonomous haul trucks, once development is complete at the Gudai-Darri iron ore mine in Western Australia.

Gudai-Darri will be one of the world’s most technologically advanced mines, with many of the company’s new technologies to be implemented at the site.

State governments are also playing their part, with one of the major selling points for mining in Tasmania being its commitment to netzero emissions.

Tasmania has been carbon neutral in six of the past seven years thanks to its abundance of forests and an electricity grid run completely on renewable energy since 2020 – mostly hydropower and wind.

The combination of increased investment and advances in technology will mean that the mining and resources industry will not only lead Australia in ESG - it also has the potential to lead the world.

Michael Philipps Assistant Editor

FRONT COVER

In this edition of Australian Mining, we include a special focus on the crushing and screening sector, with a series of feature articles profiling key suppliers in this area. This issue puts the spotlight on the iron ore sector with analysis of the junior and mid-tier companies aiming to capitalise on high process for the steelmaking material. We look at Australia’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 and how the industry will take the next step in this direction as technology improves. And as usual, we cover the latest mining equipment and technology in our products section.

Cover image: Flexco.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER JOHN MURPHY

PUBLISHER CHRISTINE CLANCY

ASSISTANT EDITOR MICHAEL PHILIPPS Email: michael.philipps@primecreative.com.au

JOURNALISTS EMILY MURPHY Email: emily.murphy@primecreative.com.au

TOM PARKER Email: tom.parker@primecreative.com.au CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER JANINE CLEMENTS Tel: (02) 9439 7227 Email: janine.clements@primecreative.com.au

SALES MANAGER JONATHAN DUCKETT Tel: (02) 9439 7227 Mob: 0498 091 027 Email: jonathan.duckett@primecreative.com.au

SALES ADMINISTRATOR EMMA JAMES Tel: (02) 9439 7227 Mob: 0414 217 190 Email: emma.james@primecreative.com.au

DESIGN PRODUCTION MANAGER MICHELLE WESTON michelle.weston@primecreative.com.au GRAPHIC DESIGNERS KERRY PERT, AISLING MCCOMISKEY

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36 50

20 INDUSTRY OUTLOOK

A look through the crystal ball: Mining in 2022 What transformations might occur across Australia’s mining industry in 2022.

24 COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

The allure of halloysite-kaolin The most researched clay mineral in the world

28 MINING EQUIPMENT

Automated ground support a bolt from the blue Rangecon from conception to commercialisation

36 FUTURE OF MINING EMISSIONS

Powering towards a sustainable future Mining is leading the way in sustainable practices 38 CRUSHING & SCREENING

The power of collaboration The importance of optimising productivity

50 PROFILE

Workplace culture a focus for Walsh The Weir Group celebrates its 150th anniversary

52 DIGITAL MINING

Taking belt cleaner maintenance to another level Software that allows customers to monitor belt cleaners anywhere

58 WATER MANAGEMENT

Redefining underground water management Solving the world’s most challenging water issues 60 WASTE MANAGEMENT

Digero reduces mining to ash with Inciner8 Disposing of rubbish on site in a responsible way

62 MATERIALS HANDLING

Powering future mine sites Aggreko discusses the growing issue of energy in mining

64 MINING SERVICES

Rio Tinto engages conveyor specialist TS Global’s experience a valued attribute in the partnership

66 REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT

The trees aren’t all that’s green in Tasmania The focus is thrown to another of Australia’s quiet achievers

69 TECHNOLOGY

Smarter, safer AI-driven mining fleets Machine learning can play a big role in fleet management

70 PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Gloves by name, gloves by nature Revolutionising the industry and setting a new benchmark for safety

66

REGULARS 5 COMMENT 8-18 NEWS 72-73 PRODUCTS 74 EVENTS